10(5 W. Doherty— ^4 List of Butterflies taJcen in Kumaon. [No. 2, 



like spots on the underside of the wet-season forms, either absent or 

 greatly reduced in those of the dry season. To give an example, the 

 Sarin valley was on September 20th full of ragged specimens of a strong- 

 ly ocellate butterfly (Mycalesis mineus proper) , which a week later was 

 succeeded by swarms of a larger, more angulate, non- ocellate insect 

 (Mycalesis visala), precisely similar in its structure, and especially in 

 those very complex organs, the prehensores, which in general mark by 

 strono- differences the slightest specific variations. In the same way 

 Melanitis leda was succeeded by the non- ocellate M. ismene, and 

 Junonia asterie by the non- ocellate J", aim ana. Such facts are best 

 studied in countries where the wet and dry seasons are very well marked, 

 and there is none better than Travancore, where in 1882 — 3 I first 

 observed these curious metamorphoses. Hitherto I have only found them 

 to exist in Junonia, Yphthima, Melanitis, and in the following groups 

 of Mycalesis : — Galysisme, Orsotricena, Telinga, Gareris, Virapa, and 

 Bamanta. Many genera of the Saty rides seem to produce only the two 

 wet-season broods, and so fail to show what variations the weather 

 would produce in their markings. Again, some dry countries produce 

 only the dry forms, and some wet countries only the wet ones. For 

 instance, I believe that Sindh produces only the dry- weather form, 

 Junonia almana, while the wet climate of Ceylon and Singapore 

 produces only J. asterie. In dry Orissa, the wet and dry forms of 

 Orsotricena medus and 0. runeka are tolerably distinct, and 0. runeha is 

 the commoner of the two. But on the damp Malabar coast, of the 

 representative forms 0. mandata and 0. mandosa, the latter, the dry- 

 weather one, is scarce and imperfectly differentiated. The cause of this 

 seasonal dimorphism would be a curioas subject of study, but 1 have no 

 suggestions to offer myself. Mr. de Niceville has recently observed to 

 me that perhaps, owing to the rank vegetation of the rainy season, the 

 butterflies are better concealed, and have therefore been free to assume 

 these handsome spots, under the influence, perhaps, of sexual selection. 

 This view is I think somewhat strengthened by certain facts. The dry- 

 season forms are all more or less leaflike in shape and colouring, while 

 in the wet-season ones there is no such mimicry. This argues greater 

 exposure to danger in the dry season. Remembering, however, the 

 remarks of Darwin and Wallace on the protective nature of the ocelli 

 of birds, borne out by the testimony of all sportsmen, and observed 

 by me in the case of the common wild peacock, I am inclined to think 

 that the ocelli are a direct protection to the insect during the rains. 

 Certainly that is likely to be the case in the Himalayas, insectivorous 

 birds being especially numerous there during the south-west monsoon, 

 when the ocellate type of butterfly prevails. 



